Jianzhan bowl - Song Dynasty
Shipping
Orders to Europe & Americas: Shipped from European Union, Italy — delivered in 1–5 days (EU) or 5–12 days (non-EU).
Orders to Asia, Africa & Oceania: For the best service, please order from our dedicated website: www.easternleaves.asia
Your order will be shipped directly from our warehouse in Yunnan, China.
For European countries there is no custom-clearance procedure; for all the other shipments we accompany the package with all the necessary papers to ensure the fastest process possible.
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Europe
North America
Asia and Oceania
Check our new dedicated website: www.easternleaves.asia
Other countries
Important Note on Shipping to the USA
To ensure your shopping experience is as smooth and transparent as possible, we would like to inform you that, as this is an international shipment, U.S. customs authorities may apply import taxes or duties upon arrival of your package in the country.
Our store does not include these potential fees in the product price or checkout shipping costs, as they are charges applied directly by the U.S. government and vary based on your specific state and the order value.
To help you plan accordingly, we recommend checking with your local customs office for an estimate of any additional charges. We're here to help and can provide any information you need about the contents of your order.
Should you incur any import duties, we would be happy to include an additional 10% in product value with your next order as a courtesy and a thank-you for your understanding.
Processing & Shipping Schedule
We ship orders every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you have a specific request, simply add a note during checkout and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Shipping Carriers & Pickup Options
Orders to Italy: shipped via BRT. You can choose a BRT pickup point.
Orders to Europe & USA: shipped via DHL Express or UPS. You can select a UPS Access Point (Europe) or a DHL Service Point (USA).
Orders to Asia: shipped via EMS. For more details, see www.easternleaves.asia.
Eastern Leaves’s Guarantee
Your happiness is our priority. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, we will happily honor a return or exchange.
Every item is expertly packaged to ensure it arrives safely and beautifully. In the rare event that an item is damaged during shipping, please contact us immediately at info@easternleaves.com and we will replace it free of charge.
Each bowl of our Jianzhan collection is created in the studio of Master Zhan Yanfu.
A place with over 30 years of history where dozens of ceramic students have lived and learned to craft pottery following an ancient artistry born during Song Dynasty.
Jianzhan history
Amidst the vast constellation of Chinese ceramic culture, Jianzhan stands as the pinnacle of black porcelain artistry, distinguished by its profoundly dark glaze and naturally formed patterns.
Born in Jianyang area of Fujian, and historically known as ‘Jian Kiln Jianzhan,’ it ranks among the Eight Great Ceramics of the Song Dynasty, bearing witness to millennia of evolution in Chinese ceramic craftsmanship. Emperor Huizong of Song, in his Treatise on Tea, declared: ‘The finest bowls are those of a deep, lustrous black, adorned with streaks of jade-like flecks.’
The tea world hails it as ‘the vessel born for tea,’ while the ceramics sphere extols it as ‘the art of earth and fire's most demanding union.’
Jianzhan clay
The uniqueness of Jianzhan clay is found in its high iron content, usually about 7-10%, and mineral richness. This allows it to withstand very high firing temperatures, which are around 1300°C inside the kiln.
The clay extracted in Jianyang 建阳 area has a specific mineral composition that cannot be found elsewhere or be easily replicated. The name Jian Zhan, or Jian Kiln tea bowl, combines ‘Jian’ of the clay unique origin and ‘Zhan’ for tea bowl, uniting geography and function.
Jianzhan signature glaze
Jianzhan glazes are valued for their artistic unpredictability: the iconic patterns on the surface form naturally in the kiln for the interaction between the iron in the clay, the iron in the glaze and the high-temperature.
During firing, the iron in the glaze melts and moves within the surface layer. As the kiln cools, the iron crystallizes and separates into fantastical patterns: yao bian "starry" glazes shimmer like hidden celestial rivers, youdi "oil-drop" glazes resemble emerald-studded pearls, tuhao "rabbit-fur" glazes evoke autumn frost on branches, while zhuge ban "partridge-speckled" glazes mimic feathered clouds over mountains.
Because the glaze is rich in iron and applied relatively thickly, it also enhances depth and visual texture. When light hits the surface, it interacts with the crystalline structures, giving the bowl a sense of movement and dimensionality. You can see a microspoce enlargement of a Jinzhan surface realized by our artist and scholar Zhan Yanfu.
The artist: Master Zhan Yanfu
Zhan Yanfu is a Craftsman Master of Chinese Ceramics, dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of Jianzhan. He is highly recognised for his work and his creations have been designated as diplomatic gifts for three consecutive years.
Master Zhan Yanfu has been studying Jianzhan culture since 1980 under Master Zhang Xiupan and started firing in its own studio in 1995. Today he is Vice President of Fujian Jian Kiln Jianzhan Industry Association.
Over his career he has published many academic articles and has won multiple awards in arts competitions, including the Ancient Method Blue Glaze Jianzhan Gold Prize at China Arts and Crafts ‘Hundred Flowers Award’ in 2015.
Zhan Yanfu notable career
In 2019, his works featured at the Global Diplomats' Chinese Culture Night, and were subsequently selected for three consecutive years as event gifts presented to ambassadors from 162 nations.
Master Zhan Yanfu's work has also been acquired by museums: in 2020 his Golden Thread Rabbit-Hair Bowl was permanently acquired by Min-Tai Yuan Museum; and in 2021 his ‘Wood-fired Rabbit-Hair Splayed-rim Bowl’ was acquired by the National Art Museum of China.
铁瓷墨韵 "Iron porcelain, ink charm" is a sentence often carved on his bowls, engraved by artists and reknowned calligraphers of modern times.
The Studio
We regularly visit the studio of Master Zhan Yanfu, where the long dragon kiln stands as proof of the centuries-old history of Jianzhan art. Here we're surrounded and charmed by beauty, and we truly understand the value of this art as Master Zhan Yanfu shares the secrets and the science of Jianzhan glaze.
Twice a year we bring here also the guests of our tea tours , stepping into the history of tea culture as Master Zhan Yanfu shares his life history with a shy voice, while guiding guests to dip their hands in clay and glaze to create their own Jianzhan bowl.
Visit Master Zhan Yanfu's studio
